Cost of Hiring a Medical Malpractice Lawyer

If you’ve been seriously injured because of medical malpractice, you are entitled to seek compensation from the individuals or company that caused your injuries.  You may be worried about obtaining legal representation because attorney’s fees are not cheap.  Below, you’ll learn about the cost of hiring a medical malpractice lawyer and why it is often easier than you think.

Most medical malpractice lawyers work on contingency.  This is great for clients, because it allows you to seek the best legal representation available without paying up front. 

What is a Contingency Fee?

Contingency is a ‘service now, pay later’ deal.  Basically, your attorney works for you without any upfront pay.  He or she works extremely hard to make sure you get the compensation you deserve, and when you receive it, your attorney will take his pay from it.  How much he or she takes will depend on the lawyer you choose to represent you.  However, most lawyers’ fees range from 15% to 25%. 

When you consult with a medical malpractice attorney, he or she will typically tell you the percentage they will take if you win the case (generally around 20%).  The great thing about hiring a lawyer on contingency is that if you do not win the case and receive an award, you do not have to pay that attorney anything.

Another benefit is that the pay you give the lawyer will directly depend on the amount of compensation you receive.  So, you don’t have to worry about receiving a small amount of compensation and paying your attorney an outrageous bill.  The amount you receive will determine what your attorney is paid.

Any Downsides to this form of Payment?

There are no disadvantages to hiring an attorney on contingency, so it’s a great idea for all parties involved.  However, once you agree to pay your attorney a certain percentage of the amount you receive from the medical malpractice case, there is no going back.  For instance, if you receive a large award and see the dollar amount that your attorney receives, you can’t decide that his or her work wasn’t worth that amount – it’s a done deal. However, because a qualified Medical Malpractice Lawyer will be able to maximize your settlement or verdict amount, it's well worth what they get paid.

Contingency is a great way for individuals who wouldn’t otherwise be able to hire an attorney to do so.  It allows you to receive the legal representation you desperately need in a medical malpractice case and pay the bills later.